Family Values Over Star Power

“Star power” may fill an arena, however convincing critical thinking voters to vote in the midterms for a candidate simply because of a celebrity endorsement has proved futile in this midterm election.

Big name celebrities like Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna, John Legend and scores of mostly far-left entertainers lent their star power to Democratic candidates — with remarkably little success.

Perhaps the two biggest names were Swift and Winfrey hoping to push their respective candidates over the finish line.

Swift, who up until this midterm cleverly avoided the trappings of political endorsements, decided to follow the horde of her far-left colleagues this election cycle and endorsed former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen over GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee’s Senate race.

However for her debut endorsement, Swift wasn’t content in just lending her name, she also decided to personally rebuke congresswoman Blackburn by taking to social media and declaring her support for LGBT rights while denouncing radical, gender, and sexual orientation discrimination.

“As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me.”

Then Swift erroneously accused Blackburn of having “voted against equal pay for women” and a bill that “attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape,” Swift also ripped Blackburn’s stance on LGBT issues and stated, “These are not MY Tennessee values.”

However, as soon as the polls closed, Rep. Blackburn was on her way to defeating Phil Bredesen and easily held on to the seat for the GOP. When the final tally was counted Blackburn had just over 62% of the vote to Bredesen’s 37%, which perhaps underscored just how irreverent celebrity endorsements are, especially when they’re misinformed.

Another powerhouse endorsement came from the former queen of daytime TV and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who not only put her star-power name behind Democrat Stacey Abrams but also personally campaigned for the first African American woman running for governor in the state of Georgia.

Winfrey actually went door to door to get Georgia voters to go to the polls and vote for Abrams.

In a video clip shared on Winfrey’s and Abrams’ Instagram pages the queen of daytime TV is seen actually knocking on the front door and surprising a woman named Denise.

“I am shocked!” Denise says when she opens the door for Winfrey. “I’m canvassing for Stacey Abrams. Are you voting for her?” Winfrey asks, to which Denise enthusiastically responds, “I absolutely am.”

However, Abrams’ opponent Republican Brian Kemp has declared victory with a slim lead of 50.3% of the vote to Abrams’ 48.6%. According to the Associated Press, Kemp and Abrams were separated by just 63,000 votes. Under Georgia state election laws anything under 50% plus a 1% threshold forces a runoff election, which would be held on December 4th.

Another celebrity endorsement came from R&B diva Rihanna who threw her support behind far-left Florida Democrat Andrew Gillum running for the governorship against Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis.

Rihanna tweeted on Instagram, “FLORIDA: You have the opportunity to make history this election.” However, after the dust settled Ron DeSantis won the prize.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment when it came to endorsements was the magnitude of having numerous celebrities like hip-hop royalty and mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, DJ Khaled, Rapper Gunna, Grammy-winning R&B singer Monica, spearheading a midnight rally concert dubbed “Bring It Home” in support of Andrew Gillum.

The list of celebrities from John Legend campaigning for Democrats in Ohio, to Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt urging Americans to vote Democratic, to Actress Eva Longoria endorsing Beto O’Rourke on Twitter posting in both English and Spanish to support the far-left candidate.

“Beto believes in us and supports us,” she wrote. “He supports health care for all, and he’s going to fight for our kid’s futures and invest in our public school system so that every kid has a chance to succeed.”

O’Rourke, who ran against incumbent Texas Senator Ted Cruz, spent nearly 71-million dollars from out-of-state PACS and had scores of Hollywood celebrities endorsing him on social media. Yet, he like all the rest still managed to lose.

About Bob A.

I began my career as a New York graphic designer, years later as an Art Director working with some of the leading advertising agencies and studios of the day, transitioned into owning my own graphic design service, providing a host of creative services, most recently as a working cartoonist for a verity of clients, my most recent illustrative assignment was a 33-page children’s book titled “Nicholas’s Amazing Journey.”
I’m a published author, with my first novel titled “Journey” published in 2003, and my second a short story titled “Mr. Tidbit’s Dilemma”, published in 2014, by American Star Books, and I’m currently working on my third novel, a murder-mystery titled “Possession,” which hopefully should be completed early next year.
I’m also an unabashed conservative and political junkie writing well over 4,000 published articles and political commentary, on a host of national issues and current event topics facing America.
I received the 2007 Editors Choice Award, for Outstanding Achievement in poetry, presented by Poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry, and I am a proud member of the National Writers Association.

2 comments

This analysis is misleading. Whether it was the celebrities or other factors (e.g., dissatisfaction with Trump), this year’s election showed huge gains for the Democrats in these states. Looking at the percentages this year in a vacuum doesn’t show the total picture. For example, Marsha Blackburn ended up beating Phil Bredeson 54.7% to 43.9%, but just 4 years ago, the Republican candidate won 61.9% to 31.8%. And in Georgia, the count is currently 50.2% for Brian Kemp and 48.7% for Stacey Abrams. Four years ago the Republican candidate won 52.9% to 45.2%. These are staunchly Republican states, so for the Democratic candidates to make these kinds of gains is historic.

This email is so disturbing. How on earth can you so totally miss the point. I am embarrassed by our current president and am astonished that there are still women who can support a man of his poor character. It’s shameful and frightening for those of us who are educated and intelligent woman!